Air conditioning apparatus



Dec. 24, 1940. F. E. PERNoT ETAL AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shree?l l Original `Filed June 26, 1937 Dec. 24, 1940*. F. E. PERNOT ETAL N 2,225,795

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Original Filed June 26, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 24, 1940. F. E. PRNOT ETAL.

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS original Filed June 26, 19's? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 24, 1940. F. E. PERNor Erm. 2,225,795

AIR COND:[TIONIING APPARATUS originl Fild June 2e, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 4 :l n 35 Z0 Dec. 24, 1940. F. E. PERNOT Erm.

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Original Filed June 26, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aggie/vw;

MNR' fRfofR/CK E. AIS/@Nor Y 1.5.5764? J. mu Y Patented Dec. 2,4, 1940 UNITED As'm'rlss j f 2,225,795 l AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 1 Frederick E. Pei-not and Lester J. Rich,

- Los Angeles, Galli'.

Application June 26, 1937, Serial No. 150,552

, Renewed June 22, 1940 This invention relates to means forchanging the temperature of air, and particularly pertains to air conditioning apparatus.

At the present time considerable attention is being given to the problems of air treatment in buildings and dwellings, and particularlyin connection with the control of temperature and humidity of air in winter and'summer, so that the variable temperature range within a room or building will be relatively small and so that living conditions will be comfortable at all times, irrespective of temperature and weather conditions generally. It is the principal object of the present invention therefore to provide a compact air 13 conditioning unit of selected capacity and which unit may be operated to reduce the temperature of air passing through it or maybe optionally arranged to increase the temperature of the' air 'changers include vertical side walls I6 and I1 passing through it. l

The present invention contemplates the provision of heat exchange units through which air may pass and within which the air may be cooled by evaporation of moisture in a stream of air ilowingthrough the unit to heat exchange rela- 'tlonship to the air being treated.- the structure providing means whereby the temperature of the air being treated may be raised if desired.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

` Figure 1 is a view in end elevation showing a structure embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan showing the structure with parts broken away to disclose the arrangel 88 ment of the heat exchange umts.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the air flow 'arrangement.

Fig. 4 isa view in vertical section, as seen on the line I-l of Fig. 3 and as disclosing the paths of travel of the two air streams of the device.

Fig. 5 is an isometric drawing indicating the air flow through the structure in diagram.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing one of the liquid sealed joints of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings Ill indicates a base structure which is formed with a bottom iloor II of desired dimensions and connected with which, along the perimeter of the oor, are vertical side walls. I 2.` The form a water sump I3 -for a Purpose to be hereinafter described. It is to be understood that the presenty invention, contemplates variation in capacity of air conditioning apparatus by varying the number of heat exchange units Il which are incorporated in the apparatus when manufactured. The heat exchange units are of the general construction shown in a co-pending application of Frederick E. Pernot, illed May Il, 1936, entitled improvements in Heat interchangers, and bearing 5 Serial'No. 78,972. These exchangers are made in separate` units and are supported upon the base structure I0 in a Imanner to be hereinafter of the rows occurring upon opposite sides of the intermediate compartment I5.v The heat .ex-

and vertical end wausla and le. interposed be- 2o tween the end walls I3 and I9` are vertical air 'ducts 20 which are spaced from each other to form intermediate passageways 2i as well as the air duct passageways 2Il. It is preferable that the airducts 20 shall be dened at opposite sides 25 by flat plates 22 which are parallel to the end walls I 8v and I 9. The air ducts 20 are closed at their sides by the side walls I6 and I'I with the exception of the fact that at the lower portion of the 'outer side walls Il an opening 23 occurs and $0 extends entirely across the wall sections I'I. The innermost side walls I6 are formed with an opening '24 adjacent the upper edge which openings communicate with the upper end of the compartment l5. Thus in the spaces represented by the openings the passageways 2l which occur between the ducts 20 will be in communication with the exterior of the exchangers and as particularly shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings will communicate with an induction throat 25, one of which is dis- 40 posed o n each of the outer sides of the two rows of interchangers I4. Mounted over the opened mouth of each duct is Aa ilter frame 26 carrying a suitable air iilter material 21. The lower edges of the vertical walls I Ii and I1 of all the 45 heat exchanger units I4 rests in parallel channelshaped troughs 28 which are disposed horizontal- 1y. across the top of the base structure I0. These troughs also `have portions 28' which extend transversely and receive the lower ends of the 60 wall sections kI8 and I9. Liquid accumulates in these troughs and forms an air seal so that no packing means is necessary between the base and the circumscribing walls of the several heat exchange units I4. Extending longitudinally of 55 the base structure and in spacedlrelatlon to each other between the rows of heat exchange umts I4 are vertically disposed stiening plates 29 and 38. Each one o! these plates carries a trough 28 and when the heat exchange units are disposed therein cooperate with the wall sections I2 in supporting the units. The compartment I5 is formed by the opposed side walls I5 of the heat exchangers I4 and is provided atits top with a sealing plate 3l which is secured tothe opposing walls I5 by angles 32 extending horizontally above the openings 24 in said walls. A vertically swinging oor 33 is pivoted upon a hinge 34 at an end of the compartment I5 and may be disposed horizontally over the central portion of the sump I3 to cover and seal the same, or at an upwardly swung position which will uncover the sump. Mounted around the marginal edge of the portion of the sump occurring between the stiilening plates 29 and 30 is a channel trough 35 which receives a downwardly extending marginal ilange 33' occurring entirely around the rectangular perimeter of the iloor section 33. Disposed in the space bounded by the trough 35 is 'a spray eliminator structure comprising a plurality of plates 36v spaced from each other horizontally to form sinuous vertical passageways 31 along which spray from the sump will be entrapped and condensed so that its heavy particles will not be carried by the air passing through the apparatus. The-vertical edges ofthe sides I5 and I1 of the heat exchangers are sealed by vertical strips 38. 'I'hus a rectangular compartment occurs between the two sets oi.' heat exchangers I4. This compartment is divided. diagonally by sloping wall members-39`and 40. These members as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings are spaced apart and form an intermediate air space 4I. Supplementary side walls 42 are interposed between the edges of the members 39 and 40 and the interchanger side walls I5. These accommodate. the upward'- ly extending edges oi the stiilening plates 29 and 30. By reference to Fig.I 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the upper partition member 39 extends diagonally from the lower end of a service air eduction throat 43 to a point upwardly and diagonally across all oi the heat `exchangers and that the partition member 4I! extends from the.

upper end of a cooling airv eduction throatl 44 downwardly to a point adjacent t0 the hinge 34 'above the swinging 'floor 33. This divides the compartment I5 into an air duct A which communicates with the passageways 24 from the various heat exchangers I4 and an air duct B which communicates with the sump I3 when the iloor member 33 has been swung upwardly to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The duct A communicates with the service outlet member 43 and the duct B communicates with the outlet 44. As shown in Fig. 1, the member 43 is shown in communication with a service air conduit 45 which establishes communication with a blower 45 driven by a suitable l the service duct of the apparatus is brought about by an interchange of heat. When air is to be spray nozzles 55 are provided to produce a jet of water spray 51 in the upper compartments 58 of each of the heat exchangers. This water passes downwardly through the members 20 into the sump I3 after which it may be recirculated.

The tops of each of the compartments 58 of the heat exchangers are formed with channel troughs 53 into which the marginal edges 60 of cover lids 6I rest. These troughs are constructed in the same manner and for the same purpose as troughs 28 andreceive an accumulation of water to form an air seal as particularly shown in Fig. 6. In

the event that the apparatus is to be used for heating the service air rather then cooling it the water from the pump 52 is passed through a heater 62 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will be understood that this water will raise the temperature of the air passing through the heat exchangers, and in. such operation it is understood that the blower 49 is not run and accordingly air is not drawn through the wetted passages 20.

Inthe operation of the present invention the air capacity required for a given room space and a given temperature change will be computed and the desired number of heat exchange units I4 will be selected for the computed capacity. 'I'he base structure IIl will of course be of a size to exactly accommodate the heat exchangers of the capacity required and will permit the lower edges of the walls I6, Il, I8 and I9 to properly seat A within the troughs 28 and 28 of the base. result will be that these edges .will be submerged in the accumulated water `of the troughs and willbe sealed against the passage of air therearound without requiring any packing or sealing gaskets or the use of any fastening bolts. These last named elements will be eliminated due to the fact that the weight of the sheet metal heat exchanger units will hold the units solidly in place in cooperation with the vertical strips 38. It will be seen that a unitary base and sump will be provided and that when desired the heat exchangers may be interchangeably mounted thereon.' Under conditionswhen air is to be cooled the covers 6I are removed from the tops of the heat exchangers so that cooling air may pass in in the direction of the arrows a as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, and will pass downwardly through the tubes 20 into the sump I3 beneath the heat exchangers. This air will therrtravel horizontally in the sump and will pass upwardly into the duct B while ilowing over the top of the accumulated liquid within the sump I3 and flowing through the pasageways 31 between the spray eliminator. plates' 36. The air thus flowing will receive water from jets 56 while passing through the upper compartments 58 of the heat exchangers and thus when passing downwardly through the tube spaces 20 will carry the The suspended moisture so that evaporation will take place within the tube spaces 20 to produce a desired heat exchangel relationship with the air passing through the spaces 2I between the tubes of the heat exchangers to ilow to the room. The

cooling air is normally discharged through the conduit 48 as drawn by the sunction fan 49 and may be delivered to any desired point of ex- 76 grammars 1 3 haust. This path of travel is diagrammatically 'I'he service air which is to be delivered to the room to be indicated in Fig. of the drawings.

cooled travels in the direction of the arrows b o in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, and is drawn inwardly through the filters 21 to the induction throats 25 after which the air passes through the openings 23 and between the tube structures 20, thereafter passing upwardly in the direction of the arrows b and outwardly through the openings 24 in the upper portion of the walls I5 of the heat exchangers. The air is then conducted into the service air duct A from which it is drawn through the conduit 45 by action of the suction l5 blower 46. In following these air streams it will be seen that the cooling' air stream is initially saturated with moisture and then drawn downwardly into the heat exchanger through the sump and afterwards upwardly into the air duct B while the service air is drawn upwardly in` counter-flow to the cooling air and then is drawn outwardly through the duct A in counterilow to the air in duct B. thus insuring that a miximum` exchange of heat will take place in a structure of 25 minimum size and contents.. The service air is ltered through the filters 21 and is thus in a desirable condition when cooled and delivered to the room. Attention is directed to the fact that due to the arrangement of the diagonal partition walls 39 and 40 between the ducts A and B the capacity of these ducts will progress from their inner ends outwardlyand as they pass along the sets of heat exchangers whereby the progressingly changers will be'accommodated in progressively larger ducts A and 4B at their discharge ends. When it is desired to-use the device for a heater the water supply i s continued through the spray system and nozzles 56 and on its Way from the 0 pump passes through a water heater 62. The swinging iioor 33 which for cooling purposes has been held in the elevated position indicated by dotted lines at c in Fig. 3 will be lowered to its solid line position in the same ligure.v This will seal the sump so that moisture will not escape via the passageway B and the idle blower 49. The lids 6I are then placed over the upper ends of the compartments 58 of the heat exchangers to close the same, after which a supply of hot water is delivered through the pipes 54 and 55 and through a heater 62. This hot water will have heat exchange relationship with the `service air passing in the direction of the arrow b in the r drawings, and will heat this service air to a desired temperature. 'I'he hot'water Vmay be circulated through the sump I3 and thel pump 5|. It is to be understood that in any event `when the joints between the assembled parts Aare to be sealed water is allowedto accumulate in the various sealing troughs 23, 2,8 and 59, and when thus sealed the structure will be hermetically tight. Attention is further directed to the fact that an outer` cover or shell 63 is provided which, while having some heat insulation eilect, will 65 primarily cover and trim the4 apparatus so that it will be sightly in appearance. Furthermore attention is drawn to the fact that by the arrange- Lment of a structure having spaced heat exchangers with intermediate air ducts drawing and discharging air oppositely from opposite sides of the ducts, a very compact air conditioning structure will be provided. V

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, as now known to use, it will be 75 understood that various changes might bemade increased volume of air to and from the ex in the combination, construction and arrangement oi.' parts; by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 5

'1. An air conditioning device comprising a pair of heat exchangers spaced from each other, a pair of ducts disposed between the spaced heat exchangers. a now of air passing through the heat exchangers and one of the ducts in one l0 direction, and a counterflow of air passing i through the heat exchangers and the other duct,- spray chambers at the upper ends of the heat exchangers, and water spray jets'in said cham-` bers for supplying moisture to the air passing 15 therethrough, and a sump at the opposite ends of said exchangers establishing communication between the bottoms of the exchangers and the air duct through which the moisture-laden air passes.

2. An air conditioning device comprising a pair 20 of heat exchangers spaced from each other, a pair of ducts disposed between the spaced heat exchangers, a flow of air passing through the heat exchangers and one of the ducts in one direction, and a counteriiow of air passing through 35 the heat exchangers and the other duct, spray chambers at the upper ends of the heat exchangers, and water spray jets in said chambers for supplying moisture to the air passing therethrough, and a sump at the opposite ends of said 30 exchangers establishing communication between the bottoms of the exchangers and the air duct through which the moisture-laden air passes, and

means for circulating the water from the sump to the jets.' 35

3. An air conditioning device comprising a unitary base forming a sump, heat exchanger units resting upon said base and in communication..

with its sump, a cooling air duct disposed between the heat exchanger units and in communio cation with the sump whereby cooling air may pass `downwardly through the heat exchanger units into the sump and then outwardly through said duct, means for supplying moisture to said cooling air,U means for establishing a counterflow 454 of air to be cooled through the heat exchanger u nits, and an upper air duct between the heat exchanger units Vthrough which said cooled air passes.

4. vAn air conditioning device comprising a uni- 50 tary base forming a sump, heat exchanger units resting upon said base and in communication with its sump, a cooling air duct disposed in communication with the sump whereby cooling air may pass through the heat exchanger units into the sump and then through said duct, means for supplying moisture to said cooling air, means for establishing a counterflow of air to be cooled through the heat exchanger units, and an air duct between the heat exchanger units through so which said cooled air passes. f

5. An air conditioning device comprising a unitary base forming a sump, heat exchanger units resting upon said base and in communication with its sump, a cooling air duct disposed between Y cooled air progressing in capacity from one end of the heat exchanger units to the other whereby the increasing volume of air delivered by the heat exchanger units to the ducts will be accommodated.

6. An air conditioning device^comprising a unitary base forming avsump, heat exchangerunits resting upon said base and in communication with its sump, a cooling air-ductrdisposed between the heat exchanger units and in communication with the sump whereby cooling air may pass downwardly through the heat exchangergunits into the sump and then outwardly through said duct, means for supplying moisture to said cooling air, means for establishing a counterilow of air to be cooled through the heat exchanger units, an upper air duct between the heat exchanger units through which said cooled air passes, and air filters disposed in the path of travel of the air to be cooled as it passes through the apparatus.

'7. An air conditioning device comprising a yplu- -rality of heat exchanger sections arranged in parallel horizontal rows, said sections being characterized as having .opened top and bottom ends with intermediate air passageways through which air may flow from the top to the bottom of each unit and intermediate passageways through which another stream of air may ow in counter current upwardly throughthe heat exchange sections, an eduction 'air duct in communication with the bottoms of the heat exchanger sections and through which air may draw therefrom, a second eduction air duct in communication with the heat exchangers' adjacent to their upper end and drawing the counterflowing air therefrom, means interposed in the path of travel of said counterilowing air to filter the same, means interposed in the path of travel of the nrst named stream of air by which hot water may be introduced thereinto. and a damper for interrupting the now of air from the lower ends of the heat exchangers to the eduction duct with which they normally communicate.

8. An air conditioning device comprising a plurality of heat exchanger sections arranged in parallel horizontal rows, said sections being characterized as having opened top and bottom ends with intermediate air passageways through which air may flow from the tgp to the bottom of each unit and intermediate pas Qeways through which another stream of air ma ow in counter current upwardly through the heat exchange sections, an eduction air duct in communication with the bottoms of the heat exchanger sections and through which air may be drawn therefrom, a second eduction air duct in communication with the heat exchangers adjacent to their upper end and drawing the counterowing air therefrom, means interposed in the path of travel of said counterfiowing air to filter the same, means interposed in the path of travel of the first named stream of air by which hot water may be introduced thereinto, and a damper for interrupting the flow of air from the lower ends of the heat exchangers to the eduction duct with which they normally communicate and covers for the upper ends` of the heat exchange units.

FREDERICK E. PERNOT. LESTER J. RICH. 

